Skylight construction



Aug. 21, 1934. G. H. LENKE 7 0 SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Filed June 20, 19322 Sheets-Sheet 1 T In .19927201? Geoaqe H Zen Zre.

i atenteci Aug. 21 1934 UNITED STATES eArr FFICE 1,971,160 SKYLIGHTCONSTRUCTION George H. Lenke, Elmhurst, 111., assignor of oriehalf toJulius J. Ohlis, Oak Park, 11!.

Application June 20, 1932, Serial No. 618,275

17 Claims. 31. 108-16) an'improved supporting rib structure, and animproved condensation gutter structure and arrangement; a constructionwhich is absolutely water-tight, and in which the parts are fabricatedand connected together in an improved manher; and a construction whichhas adequate strength, and which is simple and inexpensive to produce ona production basis. i I

The device of my present invention enables employment of relativelysmall openings, and relatively small glass panes whereby the device maybe rendered burglar-proof, and the breakage of glass and the cost ofmaintenance reduced.

The present invention includes an improved system of connecting theparts together without riveting or welding, as Well as improvements inthe arrangement of the parts andv in the construction of certain partsper se.

, The inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: vV

m Figure 1 is a perspective view of a skylight section embodying mypresent invention;

Figure 2 is'a fragmentary perspective view of the central longitudinallyextending supporting rib, showing the adjacent ends of two alignedtransverse supporting ribsconnected thereto;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on-the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through the joint between twoskylight sections embodying the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the joint and adjacent side barsand fiashing structures shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the joint between the sideand end bars at one corner of a skylight section embodying the presentinvention, and the joint between one of the transverse supporting ribsand the adjacent side bar and flashing structure;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing the joint between thecentral longitudinal su porting rib and the lower transverse end bar;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section through the longitudinalsupporting rib, showing another manner of locking the adjacent ends ofthe transverse supporting ribs thereto, and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective View of the joint between thecentral longitudinally extending supporting rib and the adjacent end ofone of the transverse supporting ribs shown in Figure 2, and of themeans for connecting such ribs together.

Ref erring to the drawings, the longitudinal supporting rib 5 is ofV-shaped section, and preferably formed of sheet metal, although rolledsteel, extruded metal, or any other suitable or preferred material maybe employed within the scope of the present invention. This longitudinalrib 5 is of any desired length. The transverse supporting ribs 6 arelikewise of V-shaped section, and preferably are formed of sheet metal,although these ribs, too, may be of rolled steel, extruded metal, or ofany other suitable or preferred stock. The ribs 6 may, in fact, be ofthe same stock as the rib 5, and are arranged normal to the rib 5 andcut to fit between the rib 5 and the sheet metal end bars and flashingmembers i r to define a plurality of rectangular spaces 7.

Positioned internally in the top of the rib 5 is a longitudinal guttercap bar 8. This bar is in the form of an inverted channel, the base 9 ofwhich has an upright closed fold 10 extending longitudinally between thesides of the base 9. The lower ends of the opposite side flanges 11 ofthe bar 8 are extended out at 12, and the outer margins of the outwardlyextending portion 12 are turned up at 13. The upturned portions 13 areinclined to correspond with the inclination of the upwardly divergingsides 5a and 5b of the rib 5, and to fit tightly therebetween. Theupturned portions 13 with the adjacent outturned portions 12 and sideflanges 11 form condensation gutters 14, one extending longitudinallyalong each of the opposite sides of thegutter cap bar 8. Thelongitudinal gutters 14 are relatively deep to permit the ends of thetransverse condensation gutters to enter and discharge into the same aswill hereinafter appear.

, The inner ends of the transverse supporting ribs 6 are cut at aninclination at 15 to fit against the sides of the intermediate rib 5,and these inclined endsl5 have integral tabs or cleats 16, which passthrough slots 1'? in the sides of the rib 5, and into overlappingrelation within the rib 5. The wedge member 13 has a fiat top withtriangular side tabs 19, the opposite edges of which are at an angleequal to theangle between the sides of the rib 5. The angular side tabs19 fit down within the longitudinal rib 5, and between the tabs orcleats 16 with their edges in engagement with the inner sides of the rib5. The side tabs 19 converge downwardly at an angle which issubstantially the "ZIP same as the angle between the side flanges of thetransverse ribs 6, to fit tightly against the inner sides of the tabs16. The tabs 16 and 19 have perforations 20, which register when theparts are positioned as shown in Figure 3, and a cotter key 21, or abolt or other'suitable fastener is inserted through these registeringperforations to lock the supporting ribs firmly together and in place.

The wedge member 18 forms a wedge between the tabs or cleats 16, alsoa'spacing wedge between the sides of the longitudinal rib adjacent tothe attachment of the ribs 6 thereto. The flat top of the wedge member18 .forms within the V-shaped member 5 a seat for the longitudinalgutter cap bar 3, the out-turned portion 12 of this bar 8 seat ing downupon the top of the wedge member 18 within the rib 5. I

The upper end bar and flashing member, as the section is viewed inFigure l. is indicated at 24. The lower end bar and flashing member isindicated at 25, and the end bars and flashing members at the sides areindicated at 26, 26. The outer margins of the bars 26, 26 are turneddown at 27. The inner margins of these bars 26 are turned down at 28,with the lower ends of the down-turned 1nargins28 turned or steppedinwardly to form seats 29 for the glass panes 30. At the inner ends ofthe seats 29, the bars 26, 26 are turned down at 31. The lower ends ofthe down-turned portions 31 are turned in at 32, and the inner ends ofthese in-turned portions 32 are turned up at 33 and form thelongitudinal side gutters 43. The upturned margins 33 are inclined tocorrespond with the inclination of the. outer ends of the transversesupporting ribs 6.

The flashing members 34 have the vertical walls 35 turned in at 36 alongthe lower margins, with the inner edges of the iii-turned portions 36turned up at an inclination at .4 to fit the. inclination of the outerends of the ribs 6. The upper margins of the vertical walls 35 areturned down andoutwardly in oblique directions at 3'7, and the lowermargins of these oblique portions 37 are turned into parallelism withthe vertical portions 27 of the bars 26, and may be secured thereto ifand as desired. The oblique portions 37 form gutters 38, and theseoblique portions 37 have weep holes 39 to allow seepage from the gutters38 to drain into the main gutters 40.

The upper and lower bars 24 andfi25 may, as shown, be similar to thebars 26, except that the gutters 42 are of less depth than the gutters43 to fit and drain into the deeper gutters 43 at opposite ends. In theillustrated construction, transverse supporting ribs 6 are provided atthe upper and lower ends, and the in-turned walls 36a of the flashingmembers 340. extend into abutting engagement with the inverted apices ofthe adjacent ribs 6. The abutting edges of the in-turned walls 36a maybe soldered or otherwise secured to the ribs 6.

The outer ends of the transverse ribs 6 are inclined at to fit the walls.4 and are provided with integral tabs 16a, which pass through slots 17ain the inclined walls 44 and'straddle and are for, and other parts areconcealed from View by the flashing members 34 in themanner in which thegutters 14, the cap bars forming these gutters,

and the wedge member, and connecting parts for the adjacent or innerends of the transverse ribs are covered and concealed from view by thelongitudinal supporting rib 5. The upper surfaces of the wedge members18a form seats for the gutters 43.

The bars 24, 25 and 26 define one skylight section, and it is'to beunderstood that the skylight may be made up of as many such sections asdesired by arranging the same in endwise relation as shown in Figures 5and 6. The lower margins of the walls 27a, for. example, of adjacentsections are turned or folded up at 48 to receive the lower edges ofinverted channel members 49, the channel members 19 defining the bottomsof spaces 50, in which and between the walls 27a of adjacent sectionssuitable caulked expansion joints 51 are provided. The upper surfaces ofthe joints 51 preferably are finished flush with the upper horizontalportions of the bars 24 and 25.

As shown at 52, in Figure 4, the opposite ends of the longitudinalgutters 14 open and discharge into the end gutters 38a. The end gutters38a discharge into the main gutters 40, which, as shown in Figure 5, areof channel section, and are arranged around the entire skylight sectionand/or along all meeting sides of adjacent sections. The main gutters 40bridge the inverted channel connections eabetween adjacent sections, thelower wall of the main gutter i0 extending across the bottom of thespace between the flashing members 34a, and the upright side walls 53fit tightly against thewalls 35a, or against spacers along these wallsand may be suitably secured thereto, with the upper margins of the sidewalls 53 extending'well up into the apices of the gutters 38.

The transverse cap bars 58 are positioned internally in the tops of thetransverse supporting ribs 6. These bars 58, like the bar '8, are in theform of inverted channel members, the bases of which have upright folds59 extending longitudinally between the sides of the base portions ofthese bars 58. The lower margins of the opposite side flanges 60 areextended'out at 61, and the outer margins of these outwardly extendingportions 61 are turned up at 62. The upturned margins 62 are inclined tocorrespond with and fit the inclination of the upwardly converging sides6a and 6b of the ribs 6, and to fit tightly within the ribs 6. Theupturned margins 62 with the adjacent out-turned portions 61 and theside flanges 50 form the transverse condensation gutters 64, one alongeach of the opposite sides of the inverted channel portions of thetransverse cap bars, and all disposed within the transverse ribs andconcealed thereby.

The opposite ends of the transverse gutters 64 extend, as shown inFigures 3 and 8, beyond the "oppositeends 15, 65 of the transverseV-shaped ribs 6. Notches 68, through the upper margins of the sideflanges 5a and 5b, and through the upturned flanges 13 permit the innerends of the ext-ending gutters 64 to'enter the relatively deeplongitudinal gutters '14.; through the upper margins of the upturned andinclined sides 44 of the outer flashing members 34, and through theinclinedflanges of the outer longitudinal gutters 43,permit the outerends of the extendin gutters 64 to enter the relatively deeper outerlongitudinal gutters 43. The engagement of the projecting ends 'of thegutters 64, with the bottom edges of the notches 68 at one end, and withthe bottom edges of the notches -69-'at the opposite end, form adequatesupport Similar notches 69,

on the longitudinal gutters and adjacent flanges of the supportingstructure for the opposite ends of the transverse gutters, and wedgemembers therefore are unnecessary within the transverse V--shaped ribsin the manner of the wedge mem: her in the longitudinal rib, althoughsuch wedge members may, of course, be employed in the transverse ribs ifand as desired. The opposite ends of the base portions 61 of the gutters64 are notched at 62 to space the ends of the base portions of thegutters 64 from the side flanges 11 of the bars 8, and allow freedrainage from the inner ends of the transverse gutters 64 into .thelongitudinal gutters 14. The outer ends of the gutters 64 are similarlynotched at 62 to permit free drainage into the gutters 43; l

The outer ends of the main gutters 14 may project outwardly over theupper ends of the vertical side walls 35a of the flashing members 34a,with the outer ends of the base portions .of the gutters 14 notched at'73 to permit drainage from the outer ends of the longitudinal gutters14 into the end gutters 38a. The gutters 43 enter and-drain into theupper and lower end gutters 38a ina similar manner, and the gutters 38adrain into the main gutters 40 as shown in Figure 5. It is understood,of course, that instead of extending the main gutters 40 around theentire section, these main gutters 40 may extend only along thetransverse flashing members, for example, or along the meeting marginsof adjacent skylight sectionsand that the gutters 38a along thetransverse flashing members. will catch, the seepage from thelongitudinal gutters l4 and drain the same into the opposite sideportions of theygutters 38, and from there into the main gutters 40through the weep holes 89. i I a The glass panes 30 fit down into thedepressions formed by the down-turned walls 28015 the side bars 26, andthe. corresponding down-turned walls of the end bars 24 and 25, withtheir lower surfaces seating marginally upon'the base portions 9 of thecap bars 8, upon the corresponding base portions of the gutter cap bars58, and upon the in-turned portions 29 of the bars 26, and thecorrespondin in-turned portions of thebars. 24 and 25. Strips 76, ofcork or other suitable insulating material, are interposed between theseated margins of the panes 30 andthe metal seats therefor, theseseating strips forming yieldable seats for the panes 30, and at the sametimeinsulate the glass from the metal and prevent cold from penetratingand causing excessive condensation. The opposite edges of the panes 30are spaced from the folded ribs 10 and 59, and from the down-turnedwalls 28 of the side members 26, as well as from the correspondingdown-turned walls of the end members 24 and 25, and these spaces arefilled with a mastic compound 78' of tar and sulphur, or other suitableplastic filling. The edges of the pane 30 may, if desired, be grooved toincrease the anchoring engagement with this filling, and the filling isflush with the upper surfaces of the panes 36 to provide aperfectlysmooth top surface over the entire area of the skylight section. Thefilling 78 is anchored in place and held against detachment by thefolded webs l0 and 59.

The gutter Cap bars 8 and '58, as well as the transverse andlongitudinal supporting ribs, and the metal end bars, and flashingmembers are all preferably formed of sheet metal, although rolled steel,extruding metal, or any other suitable or preferred material may beemployed within the scope of the present invention. Adjacent to the endsof the transverse ribs 6, the side walls 5a and 5b of the rib 5, and thewalls 44 have integral tabs 78 and '79, respectively, these tabs 78 and79 being folded tightly over the margins of the adjacent walls of thegutter bars 8 and 26 to lock the longitudinal gutter bar 8 and the endbars 26 firmly in place. Additional locking tabs of this sort may beprovided throughout the structure as desired. The folded webs 59 of thetransverse gutter cap bars 58 project beyond the opposite ends of thesebars and overlap the base portions 9 of the bars 8, and the seats 29 ofthe bars 26, 26 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The in-turned flanges97. of the transverse end members 24 and 25. maybe soldered. at 98 tothe adjacent ends of the end longitudinal members 26, 26.

The V-"shaped section of the ribs 5 and 6 imparts great strength tothese ribs and to the en'- tire structure, and'thearrangement of thegutter cap 'bars within these V-shaped ribs forms an ex cellent mountingfor these bars and positions the gutter cap bars where said bars areeffectively concealed from below by the ribs 5 and 6. This presents amore finished and ornamental appearance than possible heretofore. The Vshaped section of the rib members 5 and 6 is an important aspect of'this invention, as is the disposition and concealment of the gutter barswithinthe channels formed by these ribs 5 and 6, it being understoodthat the feature of mounting and concealment of the gutter bars may beobtained with ribs of other sections within the scope of this invention.The system of drainage of condensation fromthe ends of the transversegutters into the longitudinal gutters, and from the longitudinal guttersinto the main gutters, is another im- I portant aspect of thisinvention. Any water that seeps in at the corners will 'drain into themain gutters. The seating arrangement of the longitudinal V-shapedmembers for the longitudinal gutter bars is also an important aspect ofthis nvention, as is thearrangement of the main gutters around thebottom of the meeting edges of adjacent skylight sections. The sheetmetal wedge member 18 maintains the desired spacing of the sides of theV-shaped rib 5, and the desired spacing between the walls 44 and theouter vertical walls of the flashing members 34.

In the embodimentof Figure 9, the ends of the transverse V-shaped ribs80, instead of being provided with tabs extending through slots in thesides of the longitudinal ribs, are closed at 81, and these closed ends81 are inclined to fit against the sides 82 of the longitudinal rib 83.The sheet metal wedge member 84 is placed within the rib 83 and betweenthe sides thereof. The wedge 84 has its main sides tapered to correspondwith the 95 to fit the closed ends 81, have apertures through which thebolt 90 extends, these connection plates .94 holding the supporting ribsfirmly in place and distributing clamping pressures along the oppositesides thereof. As before, the

gutter cap bars and connecting means between the V-shaped ribs aredisposed within the ribs an concealed thereby. z

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown or described.

I claim: I

1. In a skylight construction, a supporting member of generally V-shapedsection arranged with the opposite sides of the member opening upwardly,an angular wedge member disposed within and spacing the opposite sidesof the supporting member, and a gutter member disposed within thesupporting member and seated upon said wedge member. 1

2. In a skylight construction, a supporting member of generally V-shapedsection, a gutter member disposed within said supporting member andhaving inclined outer flanges'fitting the sides of said supportingmember andmeans pressed upwardly from said gutter member and forming asingle direct support for a plurality of panes of glass which extendoutwardly from opposite side thereof.

3. In a skylight construction, a supporting member of generally V-shapedsection, an angular wedge member disposed Within and-spacing theopposite sides of the supporting member, a gutter member disposed withinsaidsupporting member and seated upon said wedge member and havinginclined outer flanges fitting the sides of said supporting member, saidgutter member having an intermediate inverted" channel section withgutters formed-between the inverted channel section and the outerflanges.

4. In: a skylight construction, 'a. supporting member of generallyV-shaped section, an angular wedge member disposed within andspacing'theopposite sides of the supporting member, a gutter member disposed withinsaid supporting member and seated'upon said wedge member and havinginclined outer flanges fitting the sides of said supporting membenfsaidgutter member having an intermediate inverted channel section withgutters formedbetween the inverted channel section and the outerflanges'the base of the intermediate inverted channel section of saidgutter member having a fold extending upwardly and forming an anchor. p

5. In a skylight construction, a supporting member of generally v shapedsection, a gutter member disposed within said supporting member andhaving a single intermediate inverted channel section, the lower marginsof the sides of said section being turnedoutwardly and" the 'outermargins of said out-turned margins being turned upwardly to'form guttersbetween the opposite sides of said intermediate channel section and saidupturned margins, and separate panes of glass seating directly on andextending outwardly from opposite sides of said single intermediatechannel section. I

6. In a. skylight construction, a supporting member of generallyV-shaped section, a gutter member disposed within said supporting memberand having a single intermediate inverted channel section, the lowermargins of the sides of said section being turned outwardly and theouter margins of said out-turned marginsbeing turned upwardly to formgutters between the opposite sides of said intermediate channel sectionand said upturned margins, the base of the intermediate channel sectionhaving a fold extendingupwardly and forming an anchor, and'a pane ofglass seating directly on said single intermediate channel section ateach sideof said-fold."

. ..7. In a skylight construction, longitudinal and transversesupporting members of. generally V'- shaped'section, and-means disposedwithin and enclosed by the V-shaped sections or" the supportingmembersfor joining. said members together.

8.. In a. skylight construction, a longitudinal supportingmember ofgenerally V-shaped section, apair of transverse supporting members ofgen.- erally Veshaped section arrangedin alignment and having'endsinclined to correspond with the inclination of .the sides of thelongitudinal supporting member and arranged in abutting relationthereto,a wedge member disposed within the longitudinal supporting member andbetween the ends of thetransverse members, and meanspassing throughsaid'wedgemember and engaging the ends-of the transverse supportingmembers for locking said transverse members to said longitudinal member.1

.:9. In.a skylight construction-a longitudinal supporting member ofgenerally V-shaped section, a pair. of transverse supporting members ofgenerally V-shaped sect-ion arranged in alignment and. having end'wallsparalleling the sides of the longitudinal member and arranged inabutting re ation thereto, and means engaging the end wallsof-saidtransverse supporting members and disposed within the longitudinalsupporting member forlocking said members together. 10. In a skylightconstruction, a longitudinal supportingmember of angular section, a pairof transverse supporting members of angular section arranged inalignment and having ends inclinedto correspond with the inclination ofthe sides of the longitudinal supporting member and arranged iinabutting relation thereto, tabs on said transverse members extendingthrough slots in the sidesof the longitudinal member, and means disposedwithin the longitudinal member and engaging said tabs forlocking saidmembers together. a 7

11. In a skylight construction; a longitudinal supporting memberofangular section, a pair of transverse supporting members of angularsection arranged in alignment and with ends abutting the sides of saidlongitudinal member, a longitudinal gutter member separate from anddisposed within said longitudinal supporting member and having anintermediate channel section with outer flanges fitting the sides of thelongitudinal supporting member and forming longitudinal gutters alongthe intermediate channel sectionof; the. gutter. member, and transversegutter members separate froinand disposed within the' transversesupporting members and having intermediate-channel sections with outerflanges fitting the sides 'of the transverse supporting members andforming transverse gutters along the intermediatechannel sections of thetransverse gutter :members, the sides of the longitudinal supportingmember and the outer flanges of the longitudinal gutter member beingnotched to permit the ends of the transverse gutter members to enter anddischarge into said longitudinal gutter member, and means disposedwithinsaid longitudinal supporting member for supporting said gutter membertherein. r

12. In a skylight construction, a longitudinal supporting member ofangularsection, a pair of transverse supporting members of angularsection arranged in alignment and with ends abutting :the sides of saidlongitudinal member, a longitudinal gutter'member disposed within saidlongitudinal supporting member and having an intermediate channelsection with outer flanges fiiting the sides of the longitudinalsupporting member and forming longitudinal gutters along theintermediate channel section of the gutter member, transverse guttermembers disposed Within the transverse supporting members and havingintermediate channel sections with outer flanges fitting the sides ofthe transverse supporting members and forming transverse gutters alongthe intermediate channel sections of the transverse gutter members, thesides of the longitudinal supporting member and the outer flanges ofthelongitudinal gutter member being notched to permit the ends of thetransverse gutter members to enter and discharge into said longitudinalgutter member, said transverse gutter members having support at oppositeends on said longitudinal supporting member, and a Wedge memberpositioned within the longitudinal supporting member and forming a seatfor the longitudinal gutter mem ber.

13. In a skylight construction, a longitudinal supporting member ofangular section, a pair of transverse supporting members of angularsection arranged alignmentand with ends abutting thesides of saidlongitudinal member, a longitudinal gutter member separate from anddiswithin said longitudinal supporting member and having an intermediatechannel section with outer flanges fitting the sides of the longitudinalsupporting member and forming longitudinal gutters along theintermediate channel section of the gutter member, and transverse guttermembers separate from and disposed within the transverse supportingmembers and having intermediate channel sections with outer flangesfitting the sides of the transverse supporting members and formingtransverse gutters along the intermediate channel sections of thetransverse gutter members, sidesof the longitudinal supporting memberand the outer flanges of the longitudinal gutter member being notched topermit the ends of the transverse gutter members to enter and dischargeinto said longitudinal gutter member, the ends of the base portions ofthe transverse gutters being notched to form spaces for drainage fromsaid transverse gutters into longitudinal gutters and means disposedwithin said longitudinal supporting member for supporting said guttermember therein.

14. In a skylight construction, a pair of skylight sections, each havingintermediate and outer longitudinal condensation gutters, transversegutters extending between and draining at opposite ends into saidintermediate and outer gutters, said skylight sections being arrangedside by side, and a main gutter bridging the joint between said sectionsand underlying the outer gutters along the adjacent sides of saidsections to receive the drainage therefrom.

15. In a skylight construction, a pair of skylight sections, each havingintermediate and outer longitudinal condensation gutters, transversegutters extending between and draining at opposite ends into saidintermediate and outer gutters, said skylight sections being arrangedside by side, a main gutter bridging the joint between said sections andunderlying the outer gutters along the adjacent sides of said sectionsto receive the drainage therefrom, a channel member interlocked with theadjacent margins of the skylight sections, and a caulked expansion jointdisposed upon said channel member and in the space betweensaid-sections.

16. In a skylight, anouter frame member, said outer frame member havinga side flange turned out and obliquely downwardly along its uppermargin, an in-turned base flange at the bottom of said side flange, anupwardly inclined flange at the inner margin of said base flange, anangular side member having a flange depending downwardly along the lowermargin of the outwardly and obliquely downwardly turned flange of theframe member, said side member having an angular wall stepped at itsinner margin to form a seat fora pane member and troughed inwardly ofsaid seat to form a gutter, an angular supporting member in endwiseabutting engagement with the upwardly inclined flange of the framemember, and a gutter member mounted within said supporting member andhaving a projecting end extending through a notch in the upwardlyinclined flange of the frame member.

1'7. In a skylight, an angular supporting member having spaced sidewalls, a gutter member positioned in said supporting member between 1said side walls and having upturned margins

